Fountain pen



K. DOLE FOUNTAIN PEN Sept. 1, 1942.

Filed Aug. 6, 1940 INVE NTOR.

Patented Sept. 1, 1942 entree STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,294,596 FOUNTAIN PEN Kenneth Dole, Melro'se, Mass.

Application August 6, 1940, Serial No. 351,570

19 Claims. )l. 120+47) My invention relates to improvements in fountain pens in which the feed diverts leaking ink from the nib, and the objects of the invention are 1) To provide a feed which uses surface tension and viscosity to divert ink rather than capillary attraction;

(2) To provide a surface-tension feed with a large-sized feed duct;

$(3) To provide a surface-tension feed flOI multiple-stroke, lever and plunger fillers;

' (4) To provide a feed in which the feed duct always retains ink, and

(5) To provide a feed which allows the ink how to be modified by changing slightly the slant of the pen.

The particular feature of the invention is the dropper construction by which the flow is restrained, not only by the surface tension of air bubbles forming in ink, but also by the surface tension of drops of ink forming in air.

Figure 1 is a' vertical section of the feed adapted for a multiple-stroke filler. Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a vertical section of the feed adapted for a plunger filler. Figure 5 is a vertical section of an alternative dropper-chamber construction.

In Figure l, the penholder l with its threads 2 is made to be screwed into the barrel of a pen with a multiple-stroke pump. The nib 3 and the feed-bar 4 are inserted into the lower end of the penholder l. Previously placed in position in the upper end of the penholder l are a plug 5, against an internal shoulder 6, and in the lower end of the penholder l a plug 1, against an internal shoulder 8. The feed-bar 4 contains a long lengthwise hole, or sump, 9, and has cut along its outside a lengthwise feed-fissure l and, on either side of the fissure, a scoop II and a scoop [2. An air-hole I3 provides a passage between the sump and the upper end of the scoop I2,

The upper plug contains four holes: a hole It, larger in its upper portion than its lower; an air-hole i5, larger in its lower portion than its upper; and, next to it, a hole I6; and, connecting the hole Hi and the air-hole 15, a transverse hole I! (the larger portion of the air-hole l5 extends across and beyond the entrance of the transverse hole II). The lower plug 1 contains a hole l8, facing the air-hole l5, and asaw-cut l9 providing a passage from a dropper-chamber 20, formed by the two plugs, to the feed-fissure l0.

Fitting into the various holes are a breathertube 2|, extending to the top of the reservoir, with an ink-feed hole 22 near its lower end, into the upper' end of the hole M; a dropper-tube 23, into the lower end of the hole I 4 a diversion tube 25, into the lower end of the air-hole l5, and

through the hole l8 extending to the bottom of the sump 9; and a blow-tube 26, through the hole It extending at one endnearly to the bottom of I dropper-chamber 20, displacing a certain amount of air in the chambenand thence through the dropper-tube 23, the breather-tube 21, the inkfeed hole 22, and throughthe blow-tube 26, into the pen reservoir; and also through the scoop I2 and the air-hole I3 into the sump 9, thence through the diversion-tube 25 and the air-hole I-5', into the pen reservoir. The second deflation stroke, after clearing the passages of ink, expels air, first, through the breather-tube 2 I", the transverse hole II, the diversion-tubes and the slit 2! into the sump 9, thence out through the air-hole I3 and the scoop l2; and, second, through the blow-tube 26 into the dropper-chamber 20, displacing some of the ink in the chamber. The remainder of the pumping proceeds in this manner,

with the level of ink in the dropper-chamber 20 remaining below the dropper-tube 23.

In writing after pumping, ink flows from the sump 9 (which was filled in pumping), up the diversion-tube 25, through the air-hole [5 into the pen reservoir, thence through the ink-feed hole 22, the breather-tube 2| and the droppertube 23, entering the dropper-chamber 20 in the form of drops, and thence through the saw-cut l9 intothe feed-fissure I0 to the nib. Air enters the sump through the scoop l2 and the air-hole I3.

In ordinary writing, when the sump and connecting passages have been cleared. of ink, air enters the pen reservoir through the air-hole [5 in the'form of bubbles and ink flows through the dropper-chamber 20 toward the nib as described. When the pen is held at a slant of 80-90 degrees, the flow is rich; at a slant of 75-80 degrees, thin; and at a slant of less than 'degrees,

55 medium.

During air expansion in the reservoir, free ink is diverted from the reservoir down the diversiontube into the sump 9, with air expelled from the sump through the air-hole l3 and the scoop I2. The ink is drained from the sump by writing, as described; or by air contraction in the reservoir,

By omitting the transverse hole H and the breather-tube Zl, and by making the blow-tube 26 of soft rubber, the construction is adapted for use in a lever filler.

Figure 4 shows an adaptation of the feed for a plunger-filler. In the construction shown in Figure 1 the correct level of ink in the dropperchamber is obtained by means of the blow-tube.-

Since a blow-tube, extending to the top of the reservoir, is impractical in a plunger-filler, other means must be provided to prevent ink from covering the dropper-tube and making impossible the formation of drops.

In the Figure 4 construction, the diversion device is the same as in Figure 1. Pressed tightly against the upper plug 33, in the top of the feedbar, is a valve plug 3|. On one side is cut an ink-feed groove 32, connecting with the dropper tube 33, and on the other side a diversion groove 33', connecting with the diversion tube 39. A cup 34 is drilled into the center of the valve plug 3|, and a connecting hole 35 forms a passage between the cup and the ink-feed groove 32. The plunger-end 33 has an encircling groove 31 cut into its side a short distance from the point. The two form a valve with the valve plug 3|.

In the first pumping strOke (the upstroke), when the plunger is withdrawn from its seat in the cup 34 a certain amount of ink is caused to flow in the pen, covering the bottom of the dropper-chamber and filling the cup 34. When the stroke is about a third completed, the airpressure above the plunger is built up sufiiciently to turn back the edge of the soft-rubber piston and pump out most of the ink that had entered the pen.

In the second pumping stroke (the dow stroke), a vacuum is formed above the plunger. As the plunger nears the bottom, the plungerend 36 enters the cup 34 and forces the ink in the cup to rise and provide an air seal between the plunger end 36 and the connecting hole 35. As the piston comes down into the enlarged portion of the barrel, the vacuum is broken and ink rapidly fills the reservoir. The hole 35, being sealed against the vacuum by the plunger-end 36, does not allow a passage of fluid and no ink enters the dropper-chamber.

With the pumping completed, the user screws on the barrel cap, which brings the plunger end 36 all the way into its seat, the cup 34. The encircling groove 31 is now opposite the connecting hole 35, permitting a flow of ink through the.

feed to the nib.

In Figure 5, the construction of the diversion device is the same as in Figure 1, except that theblow-tube is omitted. An air-vent tube 40 is provided, extending from the top of the sump through the lower plug 4| into the dropper-cham-.

her.

In pumping, the dropper-chamber becomes filled with ink. As the pen is used, the sump is first emptied of air, then air enters the dropperchamber through the air-vent tube 40 until the top of the tube is uncovered. Since the surface tension of bubbles in air is greater than that of bubbles in liquid, it becomes more difficult for bubbles to form from the air-vent tube 40 with ink entering the dropper-chamber as drops from the dropper-tube.

I make the following claims:

1. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises an abrupt wall terminating the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber containing the wall, out of which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor and comprises a duct additional to the upper section of the feed duct; in which the overflow reservoirlies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir.

2. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divert or,'and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises an abrupt wall terminating the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber containing the wall, out of which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor forms the part of the upper section of the feed duct which is next to the pen reservoir; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir.

3. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a, feed duct, 2. flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises a tube, or

dropper, forming the end, of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which. the air-retention means for the flow divertor, leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor and comprises a tube extending from a point near the'top of the pen reservoir to a point near the floor of the flow-divertor chamber; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir.

4. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an

overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between thepen reservoir and the the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor comprises a plurality of connected holes, at different angles one to another, one of which holes connects with the divertor-dropper hole and another. with the pen reservoir; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir,

5. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises a tube, or dropper, forming the end of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor comprises a plug situated between the pen reservoir and the flow divertor, with a duct along the bottom and one side connecting the pen reservoir with the overflow conduit and a second duct along the bottom and other side connecting the flow-divertor dropper with a cup cut into the upper face of the plug, to form a valve with the lower end of the pen-pump plun er, this last being fashioned to fit closely in the cup and having an annular groove clearing the entrance into the cup of the second duct; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir.

6. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises a tube, or dropper, forming the end of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor comprises a tube extending into the flow-divertor chamber from the overflow reservoir, the cross-sectional area of the bore of the tube being smaller than the crosssectional area of the overflow conduit; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir. 7

'7. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the over flow reservoir and comprises a tube, or dropper, forming the end of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor and comprises a tube extending ,from a point near the top of the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an over a point near the floor of the flow-divertor chamber; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct and comprises, in addition to the reservoir proper, the overflow conduit leading from the pen reservoir into the overflow reservoir, and the air-vent leading from the top of the overflow reservoir, these serving as supplementary reservoirs.

8. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises a tube, or dropper, forming the end of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor comprises a. plurality of connected holes, at different angles one to another, one of them connecting with the divertor-dropper hole and another with the pen reservoir; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct and comprises, in addition to the reservoir proper, the overflow conduit leading from the pen reservoir into the overflow reservoir, and the air-vent leading from the top of the overflow reservoir, these serving as supplementary reservoirs.

9. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises a tube, or dropper, forming the end of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper eX- tends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which theair-retention means for the flow divertor leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor and comprises a tube extending from a point near the top of the pen reservoir to a point near the floor of the flow-divertor chamber; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir, with its cross-sectional dimensions at its point of entrance into the latter reservoir greater than at its point of entrance into the former.

10. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for flow conduit, and an air-vent from the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises a tube, or dropper, forming the end of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention m for the flow divertor leads from the pen reservoir the flow divertor and comprises a tub-e extending from a point near the top of the pen reservoir to a point near the floor of the flow-divertor chamber; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir; .with which-is combined a breather-tube and related means for discharging the air from the pen reservoir in a. pen with a multiple-stroke pump. r

11. A fountain-pen feed system comprising ,a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for thezoverflow reservoir; in which the feedduct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor .is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises a tube, or dropper, forming the end of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor and comprises a tube extending from a point near the top of the pen reservoir to a point near the floor of the flow-divertor chamber; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservior; with which is combined means for discharging the air from the pen reservoir in a pen with a multiple-stroke pump, comprising a breather-tube inserted into a plug at the bottom of the pen reservoir and extending into the upper part of the pen reservoir, having a hole in its wall at a point immediately above its entrance into the plug, and connecting, by means of a transverse hole in the plug, with the divertor dropper and with the overflow conduit.

12. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, air-retention means for the flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writing-point; in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir and comprises a tube, or dropper, forming the end of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the air-retention means for the flow divertor leads from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor and comprises a tube extending from a point near the top of the pen reservoir to a point near the floor of the flow-divertor chamber; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir; with which is combined means for discharging the air from the pen reservoir in a pen with a multiple-stroke pump, comprising a breather-tube inserted into a plug at the bottom of the pen reservoir and extending into the upper part of the pen reservoir, having a hole in its wall at a point immediately above its entrance into the plug, and connecting, by means of a transverse hole in the plug, with the divertor dropper and with the overflow conduit, this transverse hole entering the overflow conduit at a point below its smaller upper portion.

13. A fountain-pen feed system comprising a feed duct, a flow divertor, an overflow reservoir, an overflow conduit, and an air-vent for the overflow reservoir; in which the feed duct leads,

throughra plurality of holes connecting at difler ent angles one with another, from the pen reservoir to the flow divertor, and thence to the writingepoint; .in which the flow divertor is situated between the pen reservoir and the overflow reservoir andcomprises a tube, or dropper, forming the endv of the upper section of the feed duct, and a chamber into which the dropper extends, from which leads the lower section of the feed duct; in which the overflow reservoir lies alongside the feed duct; in which the overflow conduit leads from the pen reservoir to the overflow reservoir.

, 14., Ina fountain pen, a fed duct leading from the reservoir to the writing-point, comprising a holeor series of connected holes starting from the reservoir and ending with a dropper tube which protrudes into a chamber, and a feed fissure leading from the chamber to the writingpoint.

15. A fountain-pen feed construction for conducting ink from the reservoir to the nib, contained within the penholder section; in which the feed duct has two sections, the first leading from the reservoir and terminating in tubular form in an intermediate chamber, and the second-a longitudinal fissure formed within the external wall of the feed-bar--leading from the intermediate chamber and terminating under the nib in which an overflow reservoir of cylindrical shape occupies the main part of cates by some form of hole with the reservoir proper, and has an air-vent leading to the atmosphere.

16. A fountain-pen feed construction for conducting ink from the reservoir to the nib, contained within the penholder section; in which the upper section of the feed duct ends in the form of a dropper tube protruding into an intermediate chamber; in which the lower section of the feed duct leads from the intermediate chamber to the nib.

17. A fountain-pen feed construction for conducting ink from the reservoir to the nib, in which the upper section of the feed duct leads from the reservoir and ends, in the form of a protruding dropper tube, in an intermediate chamber; in which the lower section of the feed duct leads from the intermediate chamber and ends at a point next to the underneath surface of the nib.

18. A fountain-pen feed construction for conducting ink from the reservoir to the nib, in which the upper section of the feed duct leads from the reservoir and ends, in the form of a dropper tube which protrudes from the adjacent wall, in an intermediate chamber; in which the lower section of the feed duct leads from the intermediate chamber and ends at a point next to one of the surfaces of the nib.

19. A fountain-pen feed construction for conducting ink from the reservoir to the nib, in which the upper section of the feed duct leads from the reservoir and ends, in the form of a tube which sticks out from the wall, in an intermediate chamber; in which the lower section of the feed duct leads from the intermediate chamber and ends at a point adjacent to the writingpoint.

KENNETH DOLE.

the feed-bar and communi- 

